Investing for Kids: How to Save, Invest and Grow Money

by Dylin Redling, Allison Tom

Outgrow your piggy bank—an intro to investing for kids ages 8 to 12

Did you know that the sooner you understand money, the sooner you can make more of it? It’s true! Investing for Kids can help make you money savvy, showing you how to earn it, how to start a savings plan, and the best ways to invest and create a future with money in the bank.

With a little help from the astounding Dollar Duo—Mr. Finance and Investing Woman—this engaging guide to investing for kids ages 8 to 12 covers essential information about stocks and bonds, how you can invest in them, and how they can help you build your wealth. Learn about the concepts of “risk” and “reward” as well as learn how to diversify your portfolio and, ultimately, how to make your money grow.

Investing for Kids

Practical advice—Explore modern investing techniques like impact investing and digital trading.A kid-friendly focus—Get real-life examples that you can relate to and find out about famous investors and historical events.Taking stock—Dive into interactive activities and discussions that include kids and parents alike.

Investing for Kids will give curious kids a jump-start on the basics of how money works.

Genres: Childrens, Nonfiction, Parenting, Finance, Economics, Business, Money

141 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2020

About the author

Dylin Redling was born in Los Angeles, California, and grew up in New Jersey and Ohio. He moved to New York City in 1994 where he met his future wife, Allison Tom. He and Allison moved to San Francisco in 1995, where they worked for several Internet tech companies. They both got laid off from their jobs in 2015 and then discovered the F.I.R.E. movement (Financial Independence / Retiring Early). In 2016, they launched the site RetireBy45.com to provide inspiration, tips, and resources for retiring early. They have been featured in Forbes, CNBC, Investor’s Business Daily, Business Insider, and Yahoo Finance. They currently live in Oakland, California.

Reviews

[Steve Sarner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well they did it again. What a terrific book.

Dylin Redling and Allison Tom's Investing for Kids is a follow up from their Start Your F.I.R.E. (Financial Independence Retire Early) debut where they take a whole lot of financial subjects and concepts and package them up in a fun and easy to read book where even a seasoned investor will likely learn a thing or two.

This is a quick, easy and helpful read on money and finances written for kids. It's suggested for 8-12 year olds but everyone can learn from it. Perhaps my only issue with the book is that age range is, in my opinion, way too narrow. I think it’s a great resource for any age for those who are curious about how money and the financial systems work. I am certain that there is plenty of material here that the average college student has no real idea about other than perhaps hearing terms like “Venture Capital” or “Junk Bonds” among many others. In an afternoon one can get a great lay of the financial land with Investing for Kids.

As with their first book, Investing for Kids is colorfully laid out, well written and full of easy to grasp and fun graphics. One of the things I particularly enjoyed were the many history lessons throughout. For instance, I learned of the originator of Index Funds and more than a few other fun facts along the way.

I’m not sure but, I believe schools still don’t teach the basics about money and finances and this fun compact book can be that class for kids and parents alike. If you want to teach your kids, grandkids, nieces or nephews etc about money – this is your book!

Disclosure, I know the authors and received an ARC from them

[Kyla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderfully informative yet kid friendly book on money and investing! It gives insight into the future and helps kids set goals and understand how time can have the biggest impact on investing. Their are also practical research activities throughout the book to give kids a very hands on look at investments and how their money can grow.

[Thomas Maluck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't let the "Ages 8-12" label fool you, these are basic investing concepts everyone should know, regardless of age! The details in here are quite useful and ahead of the adolescent nonfiction pack.

However, the book's distinction between mutual funds and ETFs is inaccurate and should have instead addressed active vs passive management instead of characterizing one or the other as belonging solely to one type. Minus one star for that bungle, but the book's still solid.

[David Strawbridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot wait to start teaching the girls and giving them the benefit of all we’ve learned!

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

It can be difficult to talk to kids about money. Learning to save money as a child is a difficult concept. But taking the time to teach children about the bigger picture, to set aside money for now so you’ll have it later, is not easy for all parents. Investing for Kids comes at that with a great angle. It teaches kids that they have an investment tool that adults don’t have—they have time on their side. This simple concept could turn a kid with no desire for a savings account into a kid who proudly sets aside some money to watch it grow by leaps and bounds in the future.

Authors Dylin Redling and Allison Tom start slowly, explaining a little about the history of money and why it’s important to save. They explain simple interest and compound interest, showing how the same amount of money can become different amounts over time. They use a lot of examples with real numbers (but fairly simple math) to show the differences in investing as a kid and investing as an adult, even if it’s just a simple savings account with compound interest.

From there, they move on to explanations of more complex investing options, including CDs, bonds, stocks, and even real estate and collectibles. While I’m not sure that kids need this much information on venture capitalists and angel investing, I thought the explanations regarding the stock market were really helpful. Getting an early understanding of mutual funds and recessions and a bear market add interesting layers, and the explanations of diversity are smart.

And while there are a lot of interesting sidebars on investors like Barbara Corcoran and William Buffett or famous collectibles and how much they sold for, it’s the book’s overall emphasis on understanding risk that is probably the most valuable thing about it. The authors use quizzes and exercises to help kids understand how risk tolerant or risk averse they are and how to balance their investments to maximize their money. There are ideas for earning more money and questions to make readers think about possible future goals.

Investing for Kids has a lot of great information to help kids get started earning, saving, and investing. Learning about money early can make a huge difference, not just for saving and investing, but also just to understand the usefulness of money and how best to make it work for you. It says it’s for kids 8-12, but older kids can also learn from these concepts and get started with some smart investing early on.

Egalleys for Investing for Kids were provided by Rockridge Press through the Callisto Media Publisher’s Club, with many thanks.

[Beauty in the Binding · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grew up with a grandpa who believed that it was never too early to teach a child about financial responsibility. As such, I learned basic financial principles long before I had a job and bank account. Desiring to pass on sound financial advice to my children, I ordered Investing for Kids by Dylin Redling and Allison Tom to supplement our homeschool curriculum.

I pre-read this book as my oldest daughter is at the bottom of the suggested age range. There was nothing inappropriate and the wording/concepts are totally understandable for a third grader. The narrative is accented with bright colors and bold illustrations. The chapters are of a moderate length, but have subsections that provide good stopping points, if needed.

Most of the information in this book consisted of things I already knew. However, the chapters increased in complexity and I learned some information, especially from the High Risk / High Reward chapter and further on in the book. I found Investing for Kids: How to Save, Invest, and Grow Money to be a solid resource to introduce kids to the basic concepts of money, saving, and investing.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product via the Amazon Vine program. All opinions in this review are my own.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Investing for Kids by Dylin Redling and Allison Tom is a great way to start to learn about finance and investing. Regardless of age, or if your hate reading, and/or a beginner about finance it’s very informative. It gives a reader the simplest terms to make it more understanding about the real world of finance. It has pictures and worksheets to help you better understand. This will help you become more wise about your money and savings. Overall grade 8/10.

[John Tirone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book and should be in the hands of every household with children. I'd leg the age range from even say 8 years old to into the twenties! The book should be taught in Middle schools throughout the Nation. I purchased 8 of the books and have been distributing them to nephews and nieces as well as to several neighborhood youngsters! Buy the book, you can't go wrong.

[Kenneth Brai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for Kids

Filled with lots of stories to teach kids about the beautiful world of investment. I liked the connection between kids favourite fables and investing, the use of Celebrity entrepreneurs for illustration

[Matthew Becker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good information that even most adults probably don't know. Says 8-12 but probably more 10-14 age appropriate. Excited for the kids to read it. Parents should be ready to answer questions that kids will have.

[Suresh Kothakonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read on basics of investing

Good read for kids on basics of investing. Kids will learn about different investment opportunities and some basic ideas on earning money at least think of earning money.

[Moussa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book for my kids. I read it all at once. It is a good simple and introductory book for the kids. Highly recommended.

[Nate Lugtu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about growing money!

[NIRJARA BONGURALA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best Book on Investment for Beginners

I would recommend this book to all the beginners regardless of the age and make this book as priority to read over other books.

[MOHAMED OMAR · Rating 1 out of 5]

It can't be read

[Cy Helm]

Covers the basics well, [but/and] promotes the benefits of ESG investing.

[Yogesh Somani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book for any starter

[Tammy Landgren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice introductory book to get kids excited about saving and investing money. I even learned a couple things myself.

[aysenur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Works great to teach late elementary and mid school kids about finance and money. Many investing terms are explained in a clear way. Would recommend to start teaching kids basics of money, investing and saving.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like it. The book explained things like what investing means, how saving is different from spending, and how money can grow over time if you use it wisely.